October 24, 2026
The Israeli army launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Hebron and its surroundings in the south of the West Bank, following an armed attack that resulted in the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the wounding of three others, and the perpetrators of the attack were martyred by Israeli forces’ fire. The operation includes a security cordon, inspections and demolition operations that are expected to continue for several days.
On Friday evening, the Israeli army announced the launch of the operation, with the participation of the General Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Border Guard forces, and under the leadership of the “Yehuda Brigade.” He explained that the forces are carrying out combing operations in the area from which the two attackers launched, searching for weapons and military structures, in addition to investigating dozens of suspects.
Military operations are concentrated in a specific area inside Hebron, with residents allowed to leave through three designated crossings subject to security inspection and interrogation, with anyone suspected of being referred for investigation. These measures come as an extension of the siege imposed on Hebron and the town of Halhul on Friday morning, which included closing roads, carrying out raids in several villages, and drawing maps of the homes of the perpetrators of the attack in preparation for their demolition.
In a related context, the Israeli army announced its intention to remove facilities that it considered “illegal” and that constitute a security threat surrounding the site of the clash, confirming that dozens of sites were targeted in various areas of the West Bank.
For its part, the municipality reported, through its president, Yousef Al-Jaabari, that Hebron has become besieged by dozens of military vehicles that completely prevent movement in and out of the city and neighboring towns, indicating that Israeli bulldozers have begun demolition operations that have affected homes and shops. Al-Jaabari considered that this escalation falls within a political and electoral context, accusing the Israeli right of exploiting it ahead of the elections scheduled for next Tuesday.
This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced – during a visit he made to Hebron, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz – that Tel Aviv is considering implementing a large-scale military operation in the West Bank on a scale that is the first of its kind since 1967. Netanyahu explained that the first phase includes storming the neighborhood from which the two attackers emerged, evacuating its residents, searching homes and destroying armed infrastructure.
With the actual start of the operation, humanitarian fears are increasing regarding the worsening military restrictions and closure campaigns, and their direct repercussions on the lives of the Palestinian population, amid escalating tension throughout the West Bank.
